Joseph F. Saccente

Growing up in Brooklyn, he enjoyed riding his bicycle, both for pleasure and to help his seamstress mother with her pickups and deliveries. As a teenager he proudly took on the role of playing St. Anthony in a local production.

After graduating from Thomas Jefferson HS Joseph was drafted into the Army. After just 5 months of service in World War II, at the age of 19, he stepped on a hidden land mine coming to the aid of a fallen soldier, causing it to detonate. The explosion ultimately resulted in a partial leg amputation. He was awarded a Purple Heart for being wounded in battle.

Joseph was able to courageously overcome his disability through DAV rehabilitation services. It was there that he learned to use his prosthetic leg to live a fully functional life. During rehabilitation, he also developed a lifelong passion for dancing and roller skating.

Joseph was known to be an extremely devout Roman Catholic. He was a member of the 3rd Order of St. Francis, NY, and a lifelong member of the Knights of Columbus, NY. He was very active in his Rosary group at St. Christopher in Baldwin, NY.

He was very proud of being honored as the Grand Marshall of the Memorial Day parade by the town of Secaucus.

Joseph maintained a robust sense of humor and silliness for his entire life. He often joked around with children about his prosthetic leg to allay their fears. When he was with his children at the beach, he'd give us a penny to put in a hole in his hollowed wooden prosthetic leg and then watch the delighted faces of children watching as a gumball would magically appear from the other side in his leg.

He was way ahead of his time with healthy eating habits.

Joseph's personality suited his lifelong career in bookkeeping, maintaining impeccable records throughout his career as well as in his home life.

Joseph was predeceased by his brother Benny, sisters Annette and Bridget, first wife and mother of his nine beautiful children, Frieda, his second wife Tina, as well as sons Martin and Cary. He is survived by his children Matthew (Rosemarie), Ann Marie, Joseph Jr. (Yolanda), Gerard, Camille, Francine (Franco) Pucciarelli, and Nancy (John) Mattern.

Joseph was the grandfather of Daniel (Carmella), Stephen and Joseph Saccente, Katrina and Lorenzo Pucciarelli, Kirsten and Jenna Mattern, as well as Great Grandfather of Katie, Gabriel and Lizzy Saccente, and brother of Martha Saccente Florida.

He also leaves behind many cousins, nieces, nephews and dear friends from his Church groups, especially his Rosary family from St. Christopher as well as his friends from the Elms.

A visitation for Joseph will be held at Mack Memorial Home, 1245 Paterson Plank Road, Secaucus, NJ, on Tuesday, August 11, from 4:00 to 8:00 pm. A Funeral Mass will take place at Immaculate Conception RC Church, 1219 Paterson Plank Road, Secaucus, NJ on Wednesday, August 12, at 10:45 am. A committal service will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington, NJ.